NRL: Home comforts should see Cowboys right against Knights

North Queensland Cowboys will look to make home advantage count when they take on Newcastle Knights in Saturday’s elimination final.

The Cowboys finished the campaign strongly to finish fifth on the ladder, while the Knights edged into the eight with a win in their last game of the regular season.

North Queensland can be backed at 8.00 to reach the grand final, but they will have to do it the hard way, starting with a win over the Knights.

Newcastle will feel like they have nothing to lose after squeezing into finals, and with players like Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best in their side, will be a huge threat.

The Knights are 23.00 to reach the grand final and nothing in finals can be ruled out.

. What: North Queensland Cowboys v Newcastle Knights
. Where: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
. When: 19:50 (AEST), Saturday 14th September
. How to watch: Kayo, Foxtel, Channel 9
. Odds: North Queensland Cowboys 1.44, Newcastle Knights 2.80

Cowboys on a roll

The Cowboys head into finals with their confidence sky high after winning six of the last seven games of the regular season.

They smashed the Bulldogs on their own patch at the weekend, winning 44-6, and will look to do the same to the Knights back in Townsville.

Saying that, when the two sides met earlier in the campaign, the Cowboys manage to sneak the game by just one point.

The Cowboys can be backed at 3.40 to win the game by 1-12 points and will fancy their chances at Queensland Country Bank Stadium.

They have won seven out of eight finals games that have been played in Townsville, while the Knights have not won there since 2015.

Kyle Feldt also remains in red hot form for the Cowboys, scoring 11 tries in his last six games.

The winger can be backed at 6.50 to score the first try, or 1.72 to score at anytime.

Ponga key to Knights success

The Knights finished the regular season strongly but will need to raise their game once again against the Cowboys.

They have lost the last three games against the Cowboys, while Townsville has not been a happy hunting ground.

But while they have the likes of Kalyn Ponga, a player who can rise to the biggest occasions, they have hope.

Ponga is 3.20 to score a try at anytime, but when it comes to try-scoring, Fletcher Sharpe is the man in form.

The winger has eight tries in the past five games and is 2.20 to score another at anytime in the game.

If the Knights are to score an upset, they can be backed at 4.00 to win the game by 1-12 points.